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There
are various solutions for enterprises considering additional
bandwidth or new connectivity solutions. Take your pick.
By Brian Pereira
 An
organization may need a connectivity solution either
for Net access or for internal LAN/WAN point-to-point
connectivity. Broadly, connectivity solutions are either
wired or wireless. Further, one can choose between 'always
on' or 'on-demand' connectivity. With the former, you
get a static IP address and the latter offers a dynamic
IP address. Static IP address (or fixed IP) is suitable
for businesses that need 24 x 7 access to the Internet,
or to other points on their internal networks. In other
words, it's ideal for Web servers, messaging servers,
FTP servers or for giving internal or external entities
round the clock access to certain information on the
company servers. With on demand access you get a dynamic
IP address that changes each time you log on to the
Net (as in dialup connectivity). This is suitable when
you need to connect to the Net at periodic intervals.
On demand access is for individuals who need to check
mail or surf the Web periodically or for organizations
that need to synchronize databases or upload information
to a Web server on a scheduled basis.
Of course, one can use a mix of both types of connections
for instance, always on connections can be used for
messaging, while on-demand can be used for video conferencing.
While wired connections such as leased lines are used
as primary links, wireless solutions are used as backup
links, for connecting remote locations (VSATs) or for
short range connectivity (RF links).
Here are the various broadband connectivity options
for either corporate Internet access or point-to-point
connectivity:
Let's take a quick look at each connectivity option
and understand how it can be best applied.
Leased Lines: These are terrestrial and dedicated
circuits that are used for point-to-point connectivity.
Enterprises use leased lines for interconnecting their
offices or branches. These circuits are also used for
connecting an enterprise network to an Internet service
provider (for gateway services), or to VSNL (for international
private leased circuits).
Leased lines circuits can be bought in capacities of
64Kbps (henceforth written as 64K) and multiples. Typically,
enterprises use 64K links to interconnect offices and
2Mbps links for connecting locations that exchange high
volume of data.
Providers: BSNL, VSNL, MTNL. In addition many Internet/broadband
service providers buy leased lines and lease bandwidth
to corporates (see table of services).
ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network is
a digital circuit for carrying voice, video and data
simultaneously. These characteristics make ISDN suitable
for point-to-point video conferencing. You can also
connect G4 fax machines, PCs, telephones and video conferencing
equipment to an ISDN line.
Computers are connected to an ISDN line via special
devices called terminal adapters.
There are two flavors of ISDN: the BRI-type and PRI-type.
Basic Rate Interface (BRI) segregates the phone line
into two B-channels and one D-channel. The B-channels
can be used for two simultaneous voice calls, or one
for data and one for voice or both for video or data.
The D-channel is a control line used for signaling.
With Primary Rate Interface (PRI) you get 30 B-channels
and one D-channel.
With ISDN you get bandwidth of 64- or 128Kbps.
Providers: BSNL, VSNL, MTNL, Bharti Broadband.
Ethernet connectivity: This is a natural extension
for 10/100 Mbps Ethernet corporate networks and an inexpensive
connectivity option. It does not require extra equipment/infrastructure
like routers, modems, or dedicated phone lines. Using
Ethernet UTP cable and network interface cards, the
corporate proxy server or Ethernet switch is connected
to the service provider's switch at a remote point of
presence (set up in the building or nearby). In this
set up the corporate gets a dedicated line for Internet
access.
Providers: RoltaNet, Cisco, others.
Cable: Using co-axial cable, the type that's
used for cable TV, service providers can offer corporates
always on Internet access as well as cable TV. There
are service providers who offer only cable Internet
services. On the other hand, regular cable TV networks
have upgraded their equipment (amplifiers) for Internet
access. Since cable offers always on Internet access,
you can connect a corporate Web server to the Internet
via a cable network. Further, multiple users in your
organization can share the cable connection.
To transmit data over co-axial cable, you will need
to purchase either a cable modem (approx. Rs 7,800)
or a cable router (approx. Rs 35,000). Some service
providers offer this equipment on a rental basis.
Providers: Hathway Cable and Datacom, Siti Cable
Networks, others.
DSL: Digital Subscriber Line is a connectivity
option that presents broadband Internet access over
regular (copper) telephone lines. A DSL modem facilitates
simultaneous voice and data transmission over the same
line. It does this by splitting the copper line into
two frequency ranges. The frequencies below 4 kHz are
reserved for voice, and the range above that is used
for data. So one can also make voice calls while simultaneously
transmitting data over a DSL line.
There are various flavors of DSL (HDSL, VDSL, SDSL,
etc) but ADSL (Asynchronous) is a popular
standard.
Apart from the service provider's switching equipment,
you will need to use special DSL modems. DSL offers
download speeds up to 1.5Mbps that's 25 times faster
than 56K dialup modems.
Providers: DishnetDSL, others.
Fiber optic/ Optical Ethernet: Fiber optic networks
are future ready and can address large bandwidth requirements.
At present there are few service providers offering
fiber connectivity. However, several are setting up
their nationwide fiber optic networks.
A new trend here is the interfacing of Ethernet networks
with fiber optic backbones. The technology is now available
from vendors like Nortel Networks. Optical Ethernet
is an extension of the LAN and it can be used for creating
a MAN/WAN networking architecture.
Providers: Nortel Networks, BSES Telecom, others.
VSATs: VSAT or Very Small Aperture Terminal is
a satellite based communications solution that is ideal
for connecting remote locations. Since it bypasses infrastructure
from other parties (such as the telephone company) it
gives a company complete control over its communications
network.
Besides offering the advantage of speed, VSAT networks
can carry voice, video and data signals. A VSAT user
needs a special dish antenna (with transceiver) that
communicates with a satellite transponder.
VSAT technologies used in the country are: TDM/TDMA,
SCPC/DAMA and PAMA (Permanent Assigned Multiple Access).
In Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) multiple data
circuits are combined into one circuit. This is done
by assigning each circuit a fixed time for data transmission.
With TDMA, all VSAT terminals communicate via the service
provider's central hub (an earth station). DAMA or Demand
Assigned Multiple Access technology assigns a designated
frequency to each VSAT terminal. DAMA is based on SCPC
or Single Channel Per Carrier a communications architecture
that places one source of information onto a single
carrier (frequency domain). Since SCPC/DAMA VSATs facilitate
continuous communications with the satellite, they are
ideal for interactive applications or high traffic requirements.
Providers: HECL, Comsat Max, HCL Comnet, Bharti BT,
Telstra V-Comm, RPG Satcom, Essel Shyam, ITI, HFCL Satcom.
WLL: Wireless in Local Loop connects a corporate
network to the PSTN network of the telephone company
using radio frequency signals instead of traditional
copper cables. It is ideal for connecting remote locations
or offices in rural areas.
Providers: BSNL
RF links: Radio Frequency links can be used for
connecting two offices over shorter distances. In such
a case RF is more economical than leased lines. RF offers
bandwidth as much as 1.5Mbps.
The RF equipment includes wireless transceivers and
wireless modems.
Providers: Satyam Infoway, Bharti Broadband, others.
Wi-Fi: Another term for the IEEE-802.11b Wireless
Ethernet standard. Wi-Fi is fast gaining in popularity
as a wireless standard for connectivity on enterprise
networks. It presents 11Mbps connectivity for network
PCs, notebooks and other network devices. Wi-Fi is ideal
for campus LANs or for wireless connectivity within
the office.
Equipment costs are coming down. The equipment comprises
of access point devices, Wireless LAN Cards in PCs/notebooks,
and bridges.
Providers: Network integrators, equipment vendors.
Direct from Satellite: Direct
broadcast satellite (DBS) technology and corresponding
services have just been introduced in the country. DBS
is ideal for connecting users at remote locations, or
areas where there is inadequate communications infrastructure
(rural areas). It can be used for high-speed Internet
access or for extranet connectivity. From a remote location,
users transmit information to a central hub at speeds
up to 256 Kbps. Customers have the option of one-way
or two-way satellite communications. The former is a
more economical service that only downloads information
via satellite. Uploads or requests for Web pages are
made through the phone line (and a dialup connection).
The service provider installs a small KU-band
dish antenna at the customer premise for satellite communication.
HECL's DirecWay service for instance, is targeted at
small businesses and individual users. This makes the
service suitable for smaller entities such as dealers/distributors,
suppliers to corporates, professionals, SOHO users and
consumers.
Providers: HECL, Bharti Broadband
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Enterprise
Broadband Services
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Service
Provider
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Services
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Value-adds
|
Contact
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Bharti
Broadband
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Broadband
Direct-from-satellite Internet service (Skymantra)
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Leased lines
-
RF link
-
ISDN
-
VSAT services (PAMA, DAMA, TDM/TDMA)
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VPN,
Server Co-locationhosting, Web hosting solutions,
Corporate Mail solutions, Broadband Interactive
Terminals
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Mumbai:
+91-22-6907732/8446845 |
N.Delhi:
+91-11-6810088
Kolkata:
+91-33-2171276/77
Chennai:
+91-44-8291882
Bangalore:
+91-80-5271001 - 3
E-mail:
skymantra@bhartibroadband.com
Web:
www.bhartibroadband.com
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BSES
Telecom
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-
Fiber optic network
-
Broadband Internet
|
Web
hosting, Server co-location,
Web solutions,access
(Powersurfer.Net)
|
Tel:
+91-22-8252233/77
Web:
www.powersurfer.net/new/tariff.htm
multiple
e-mail IDs,
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BSNL
|
-
Internet access
-
Leased Lines
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ISDN
-
WLL
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Web:
www.bsnl.co.in
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Caltiger
|
-
Leased Line solutions
- VPN
|
Fax
over Internet, PC to fax (Calfax)
Corporate
e-mail
(Calvox
one)
Interactive
Voice Response
solutions
(Talk Sol)
|
Mumbai:
+91-22-8262004
N.
Delhi: +91-11-6261224 - 6
Kolkata:
+91-33-3574724 - 28
Bangalore:
+91-80-2384288
Chennai:
+91-44-648-1921
Web:
www.caltiger.com
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Comsat
Max
|
- VSAT
Connectivity
- Broadband
services
- Internet
VPN
|
Managed
Connectivity,
Security
solutions,
Enterprise
Management,
Managed
Enterprise
Data
Centers
|
Mumbai:
+91-22- 648666/6007607/8
N.
Delhi: +91-11- 6991005/06
Kolkata:
+91-33- 2872252, 2813973
Bangalore:
+91-80- 227 5314/6138
Chennai:
+91-44-8204984 - 86
Web:
www.comsatmax.com
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DishnetDSL
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-
DSL Connectivity
-
Leased Line solutions
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Software
Solutions &
Services, Website
development,
Mailing
Service,
Shared/Dedicated
Web
Hosting, Server
Co-location
service,
Disaster
Recovery Solutions, VPN
Solutions, TurnkeyNetwork
Solutions
|
Mumbai:
+91-22-6440044, 6419522
Pune:
+91-20-6305100 - 5110
Bangalore:
+91-80-5323821 - 6
Chennai:
+91-44-4313038
N.
Delhi: +91-11-6814561/62
Hyderabad:
+91-40-3237745, 3235925
Cochin:
+91-484-383590, 383591
Coimbatore:
+91-0422-211166, 2111252
Web:
www.ddsl.net
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Hathway
Cable and
Datacom
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-
Internet access through cable (Various
plans)
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Multiple e-mail IDs,
Additional/Unlimited downloads, Bandwidth
on demand, (64Kbps
- 256 Kbps), Cable
modem/router rental, Static
IP (Gold package)
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Mumbai:
+91-22-4623300
Pune:
91-20-5532420
Delhi:
91-11-6160335
Chennai:
91-44-4908776
Bangalore:
91-80-5555625
Web:
hathway.com
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HCL
Comnet
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-
VSAT Connectivity
(Skyblaster,
Skylinx)
-
Leased Lines
-
VPN
-
Wireless and Intelligent Network Infrastructure
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Security,
Network
Intelligence,
Managed
Services,
Internet
Consulting
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Mumbai:
+91-22-6541984/85/86
Noida:
+91-11-8-453-5071
Kolkota:
+91-33-2821112/1122
Chennai:
+91-44-3741884/85
Bangalore:
+91-80-5097588
E-mail:
enquiry@hclcomnet.com
Web:
www.hclcomnet.com
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HECL
|
-
Direct from Satellite (DirecWay)
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Enterprise
Applications:
e-procurement,
e-distribution,
e-CRM,
HR
management,
corporate
training
|
Ashish
Chowdhary
(Enterprise
Solutions)
E-mail:
aschowdhary@hughes-ecomm.com
Tel:
916398834 / 8852Fax:
916398840
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Hughes
Tele.com India
Limited (HTIL)
|
- SDH
conventional
- Leased
Line
- ATM
Layer 2
- connectivity
(fiber)
- Layer
3 IP over ATM
- (fiber)
- End-to-end
connectivity solutions
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High-speed
Internet
ervices
|
Prakash
Iyer
Tel:
+91-22-4615132
S hailesh
Dudhani
Tel:
+91-22-4615272
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MTNL
|
Internet
Access
ISDN
Leased
Lines
|
|
Mumbai:
1600118844
N.
Delhi: 1600111172
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Rolta
India/Rolta
Net
|
High-speed
Internet
access
over Ethernet
(RoltaDirect)
|
Server
Co-location service
Bandwidth
on demand
(64K
to 2Mbps)
Virtual
LAN security
Network
Management
|
Sandeep
Ohri
(Vice
President - Sales)
E-mail:
snohri@rolta.com
Tel:
91-22-832 6666
Fax:
+91-22-822 7609
Web:
www.roltanet.com
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Satyam
Infoway (SIFY)
|
Last
mile RF
connectivity
(Point to multipoint)
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Managed Connectivity, Services
(with SLAs), Web-based
reporting, Tools
and help desk
|
P
J Nath
(Vice
President - Sales &Marketing, Enterprise
Solutions)
E-mail:
pj_nath@sifycorp.com
Tel:
+91-44-254 0770
Fax:
+91-44-254 0771
Web:
www.sifycorp.com
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VSNL
|
Internet
Gateway
Services
Leased
Lines
Corporate
Messaging
ISDN
|
Video
conferencing,
Managed
Data Network
Services,
Corporate Mail,
E-mail
to Fax, VPN
|
Mumbai:
customer@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in
N.
Delhi: +91-11-3360540
Kolkata:
+91-33-355 4018, 6505
Bangalore:
+91-80-3412719
Chennai:
+91-44-5387783
Web:
www.vsnl.com,
internet.vsnl.com
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Note:
While we have attempted to make this table
comprehensive, it does not include all broadband
services available in India.
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Vendor
solutions
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|
Vendor
name
|
Solutions
|
Solutions
for…
|
Contact
|
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Cisco
|
Ethernet-based
broadband
solutions
Wireless
IP
over Cable
DSL
and Long Range
Ethernet
(LRE)
Aggregation
and core
network
infrastructure
solutions
including
Gigabit-over-copper
and
optical
fiber for Metro and
Long
haul optical networks
|
Broadband
service
providers,
enterprises
|
Shalini
Singh
E-mail:
shalinis@cisco.com
Fax:
+91-11-6233207
Web:
www.cisco.com
|
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Motorola
India
|
End
to end solutions for
voice,
video, data services
over
Hybrid Fiber
coaxial
cable
|
Service
Providers,
enterprises
|
A
K Sekhar
(Country
Sales Manager)
Tel:
91-80-2283189
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|
Nortel
Networks
|
Optical
Ethernet
connectivity
solutions
|
Carriers,
Service
Providers
|
KShipra
Kumar
E-mail:
kshipra@nortelnetworks.com
Tel:
+91-80-5592088
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Tejas
Networks
|
Optical
networking products
|
Carriers
|
E-mail:
info@tejasnetworks.com
Tel:
91 80 226 7495
Fax:
91 80 226 7494
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|
Texas
Instruments
|
Advanced
signal
processing-based
silicon and
software
platforms for
broadband
communications
solutions
|
OEMs
|
Srinivas
Kasa
E-mail:
kasa@ti.com
Tel:
+91-80-5099594
Fax:
+91-80-5298238
Web:
www.ti.com
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Unisphere
Networks
|
Networking
products for
IP-driven
services
Data
and voice products
Subscriber
& Services
management
Application
services:
Broadband
Connectivity,
voice
services
|
Service
providers,
enterprises
|
Shirish
Kanetkar
(Country
Manager, India)
Tel:
91-11-6207428
Fax:
91-11-747 4718/19
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Brian
Pereira can be reached at brianp@networkmagazineindia.com
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